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The Card Counter

{{Short description|2021 film by Paul Schrader}}

{{Use American English|date=July 2021}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}

{{Infobox film

| name = The Card Counter

| image = The Card Counter (2021) film poster.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Paul Schrader

| producer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| writer = Paul Schrader

| based_on =

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = {{Plainlist|

}}

| cinematography = Alexander Dynan

| editing = Benjamin Rodriguez Jr.

| studio = {{Plainlist|

  • Saturn Streaming
  • Astrakan Films AB
  • RedLine Entertainment
  • LB Entertainment
  • Enriched Media Group
  • One Two Twenty Entertainment

}}

| distributor = Focus Features

| released = {{Film date|2021|9|2|Venice|2021|9|10|United States}}

| runtime = 112 minutes{{cite web|url=https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2021/venezia-78-competition/card-counter|title=The Card Counter|website=Venice Film Festival|date=July 16, 2021|access-date=July 27, 2021|language=en}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross = $5 million{{cite web |url= https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1165460225/ |title= The Card Counter (2021) |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=July 15, 2022 }}

}}

The Card Counter is a 2021 American crime drama film written and directed by Paul Schrader. It stars Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan, and Willem Dafoe. Martin Scorsese is an executive producer.

It had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2021.{{cite web |url= https://variety.com/2021/film/news/venice-film-festival-2021-lineup-1235027083/|title=Venice Film Festival Full Lineup Unveiled – Live Updates|website=Variety|first=Nick|last=Vivarelli|date=July 26, 2021|access-date=July 26, 2021}} It was released on September 10, 2021, by Focus Features.

Plot

William Tell is a gambler who taught himself how to count cards during an eight-year stint in military prison. Seeking to avoid attention—either from fame or from casino bouncers—Tell's gambling philosophy is to bet small and win modestly. Despite gambling nearly every day, he avoids scrutiny by never staying in a casino hotel. He lives out of two small suitcases and exclusively stays in motels, where he removes any decor and covers the furniture in plain sheets secured with twine. At a casino, Tell encounters La Linda, an acquaintance from the gambling world. She runs a stable, a group of gamblers who are backed by investors for a portion of their winnings. She offers to stake Tell but he refuses, unwilling to be burdened by the responsibility.

In Atlantic City, a security-industry convention is being held in the same building as the casino. Tell slips into a seminar held by retired Major John Gordo, but decides to leave almost immediately. On the way out, he is recognized and confronted by a young man, Cirk Baufort, who slips him his name and number. After a nightmare about torture in a prison camp, Tell calls Cirk and agrees to meet.

Cirk knows Tell's true identity: PFC William Tillich, a soldier who was tried and convicted for his role in the prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib. Cirk explains that his father, Roger, was also at Abu Ghraib; like Tell, he was dishonorably discharged and served time, but the experience led him to drug addiction and made him violently abusive. Cirk's mother left the family, and Roger eventually killed himself. Gordo trained Tillich and the elder Baufort in "enhanced interrogation techniques" but as he was involved as a "civilian consultant" avoided charges or culpability. Blaming Gordo for what happened to his family, Cirk is planning to capture, torture and kill him for revenge and seeks Tell's help. Tell refuses but offers to take Cirk along as he gambles in an attempt to help the young man avoid a violent life.

At their next stop, Tell informs La Linda that he is interested in making an arrangement. He expresses a desire to go on the World Series of Poker (WSOP) tour in order to win enough money to help Cirk cover his debts and start a new life, after which Tell will retire. After early WSOP matches, Tell makes money but loses to Mr. USA, an obnoxious Ukrainian player who has taken on a jingoistic American persona. He bonds with Cirk and feels a growing attraction to La Linda but avoids getting too close as he continues making money gambling.

At a qualifying round in Panama City, Cirk discloses that he still plans to kill Gordo. Tell takes Cirk back to his motel, confronting the younger man with a harsh interrogator persona. He presents Cirk with $150,000 from his gambling winnings, enough for Cirk to pay off his and his mother's debts and return to college. He insists Cirk return to his mother and forget about Gordo, threatening violence if he does not comply; Cirk leaves with the money. Tell, who has begun a relationship with La Linda, advances to the final table of the WSOP. While on a break he receives a message from Cirk, revealing that rather than returning home he went to Gordo's house to kill him. Tell is unsettled during the resumed match and abruptly walks off the casino floor. A news report shows that Gordo has killed an armed home intruder, presumably Cirk.

Tell drives through the night to reach Gordo's house, where he covers the furniture as he does in his motel rooms. Gordo returns home and Tell holds him at gunpoint, revealing who he is and why he is there. Rather than shooting him, Tell takes Gordo into another room for a "dramatic reenactment" of their time in Abu Ghraib. Both men are heard screaming in agony and eventually Tell emerges from the room severely wounded and covered in blood. He calls the police to report a homicide. Tell is incarcerated in the same military prison as before, accepting the routine and ascetic setting as he feels it is what he deserves. La Linda arrives for a visit and the two reach out to each other, each placing a single finger on the glass separating them.

Cast

Production

File:Paul Schrader Montclair Film Festival (cropped).jpg

It was announced in October 2019 that Oscar Isaac had been cast in the film, written and directed by Paul Schrader.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/oscar-isaac-paul-schrader-revenge-thriller-the-card-counter-afm-1202771441/ |title=Oscar Isaac Boards Paul Schrader Revenge Thriller 'The Card Counter' – AFM |first=Tom |last=Grater |date=October 29, 2019 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=January 31, 2020 |archive-date=March 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302100833/https://deadline.com/2019/10/oscar-isaac-paul-schrader-revenge-thriller-the-card-counter-afm-1202771441/ |url-status=dead }} In January 2020, Schrader announced that Tye Sheridan, Tiffany Haddish and Willem Dafoe had been added to the cast.{{Cite news|url=https://theplaylist.net/paul-schrader-first-reformed-best-decade-card-counter-20200108/|title=Paul Schrader Chooses His Own 'First Reformed' As The Best Film Of The Past Decade|newspaper=The Playlist|date=January 8, 2020 |last1=Barfield |first1=Charles }}

Filming began in Biloxi, Mississippi, on February 24, 2020.{{cite web |date=29 January 2020 |first=Austin |last=Dale |title=The Metrograph Interview: Paul Schrader |url=http://metrograph.com/edition/article/146/the-metrograph-interview-paul-schrader |website=Metrograph }}{{cite web|url=https://www.projectcasting.com/casting-calls-acting-auditions/card-counter-movie/|title='The Card Counter' Starring Tiffany Haddish is Now Hiring Actors|website=Project Casting|date=March 3, 2020|access-date=March 3, 2020}} On March 16, 2020, production on the film was paused after an actor with a small role who had flown in from Los Angeles tested positive for COVID-19 during the pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/the-card-counter-production-stopped-paul-schrader-coronavirus-1202884321/|title=Paul Schrader's 'The Card Counter' Shutters Five Days From Finish Over A Positive Coronavirus Test|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=March 16, 2020|access-date=March 16, 2020}} Production on the film resumed on July 6, 2020,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/video/watch-paul-schrader-oscar-isaac-talk-new-pic-the-card-counter-why-they-love-handmade-movies-playing-quarantine-poker/|title=Watch: Paul Schrader & Oscar Isaac Talk New Pic 'The Card Counter', Why They Love "Handmade Movies" & Playing Quarantine Poker|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Tom|last=Grater|date=June 18, 2020|access-date=June 18, 2020}} and concluded 6 days later on July 12, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/paul-schrader-the-card-counter-covid-safe-shoot-mississippi-1202984092/|title=Paul Schrader Wraps 'The Card Counter' After COVID-Safe Shoot In Mississippi|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Tom|last=Grater|date=July 13, 2020|access-date=July 13, 2020}}

Release

In July 2020, Focus Features acquired distribution rights to the film in the U.S., U.K., France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, China, Southeast Asia (excluding Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and television), Japan, South Korea, Latin America and worldwide airlines.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/paul-schrader-card-counter-oscar-isaac-tiffany-haddish-focus-features-1234704650/|title=Paul Schrader's 'The Card Counter' Sells to Focus Features (EXCLUSIVE)|website=Variety|first1=Brent|last1=Lang|first2=Elsa|last2=Keslassy|date=July 13, 2020|access-date=July 13, 2020}} The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2021, and was given a wide release on September 10, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.variety.com/2021/film/news/paul-schrader-card-counter-release-date-1234972247/|title= Paul Schrader's Crime Drama 'The Card Counter' With Oscar Isaac Sets Fall Release Date|website=Variety|first=Rebecca|last=Rubin|date=May 13, 2021|access-date=May 13, 2021}}

Reception

= Box office =

In the United States and Canada the film was released alongside Malignant and Show Me the Father.{{cite web |date=September 9, 2021 |first=Sam |last=Mendelsohn |title=James Wan's 'Malignant' No Match For 'Shang-Chi |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed3832611844/ |website=Box Office Mojo }} It grossed $1,039,580 from 580 theatres during its opening weekend, and $2,657,850 in total domestically and $2,394,691 internationally for a worldwide gross of $5,052,541.{{cite web |url= https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Card-Counter-The-(2021)#tab=summary |title= The Card Counter (2021)|website=The Numbers |access-date=October 7, 2021}}

=Critical response=

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 87% based on 223 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Led by Oscar Isaac's gripping performance, The Card Counter adds another weighty chapter to Paul Schrader's long inquiry into man's moral responsibility."{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes |id= the_card_counter |type=movie |title= The Card Counter |access-date=June 16, 2023}}{{cbignore}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 77 out of 100, based on 48 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.{{Cite Metacritic |id=the-card-counter |type=movie |title= The Card Counter Reviews |access-date=February 23, 2022}}{{cbignore}}

Reviewing the film for the Chicago Sun-Times, critic Richard Roeper gave The Card Counter four stars, labeling it as "searing," "stunning" and praising Oscar Isaac's performance as "magnetic" in what Roeper called "one of the best films of the year."{{cite web |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2021/9/8/22662681/card-counter-review-oscar-isaac-movie-tifffany-haddish-paul-schrader-tye-sheridan |title= 'The Card Counter': In One of the Year's Best Films, Oscar Isaac Plays a Gambler Who Knows When to Walk Away |website=Chicago Sun Times |first=Richard |last=Roeper |author-link=Richard Roeper |date=September 8, 2021 |access-date=September 8, 2021 }}

David Rooney also gave the film a positive review for The Hollywood Reporter, calling it a "bruising character study" and, although noting some moments of slack storytelling, praised the film as a "highly controlled piece of filmmaking with an unerring command of tone" and Isaac as a "remarkably compelling force."{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/oscar-isaac-in-paul-schraders-the-card-counter-1235005154/|title= 'Oscar Isaac in Paul Schrader's The Card Counter: Film Review |website=The Hollywood Reporter |first=David|last=Rooney|date=September 2, 2021|access-date=September 8, 2021}} For The Atlantic, David Sims also praised the film as a compelling, impressive character study with larger implications as a metaphor for "America's struggle to overcome its grimmest failures."{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/09/the-card-counter-movie-review/620046/ |title= 'A Film That Draws You Into a Frightening—And Compelling—Psyche |website=The Atlantic |first=David |last=Sims |date=September 12, 2021 |access-date=September 12, 2021 }}

In a three-star review for The Washington Post, Ann Hornaday had a mixed response to the film and criticized it for being occasionally perfunctory and tedious, overly schematic and missing polish. However, she commended the film for its "haunting power" and praised the acting, calling Isaac "mesmerizing."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/the-card-counter-movie-review/2021/09/08/a204468c-06bf-11ec-a266-7c7fe02fa374_story.html |title='With 'The Card Counter,' Paul Schrader has, once again, crafted a haunting portrait of alienation |newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Ann|last=Hornaday|date=September 8, 2021|access-date=September 12, 2021}}

The Card Counter was included on a number of year-end critic best of lists,{{cite web |title=Best of 2021: Film Critic Top Ten Lists |url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/film-critics-pick-10-best-movies-of-2021 |website=Metacritic |access-date=March 13, 2022 |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118201057/https://www.metacritic.com/feature/film-critics-pick-10-best-movies-of-2021 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://www.yearendlists.com/visuals/the-card-counter-2ddb3b34-1a54-441e-bba7-ef1f78bc9da3|title= 'Year End Lists: The Card Counter|website=Year-End Lists|access-date=December 22, 2021}} including Time,{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/6125959/best-movies-2021/ |title= 'The 10 Best Movies of 2021 |magazine=Time|first=Stephanie|last=Zacharek|date=December 7, 2021|access-date=December 22, 2021}} — which also named Isaac's performance as one of the top 10 of the year,{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/6128150/best-movie-performances-2021/ |title= 'The 10 Best Movie Performances of 2021 |magazine=TIME|first=Stephanie|last=Zacharek|date=December 14, 2021|access-date=December 22, 2021}} The New Yorker,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/2021-in-review/the-best-movies-of-2021|title= 'The 10 Best Movies of 2021 |magazine=The New Yorker|first=Richard|last=Brody|date=December 2, 2021|access-date=December 22, 2021}} RogerEbert.com,{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/features/the-ten-best-films-of-2021|title= 'The Ten Best Fims of 2021 |website=Roger Ebert| date=December 14, 2021|access-date=December 22, 2021}} IndieWire,{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/best-movies-of-the-year-2021/ |title= 'The 25 Best Movies of 2021 |publisher=IndieWire|first=David|last=Ehrlich|date=December 2, 2021|access-date=December 22, 2021}} The A.V. Club,{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-best-films-of-2021-1848243866 |title= 'The Best Films of 2021 |website=The A.V. Club |date=December 21, 2021|access-date=December 22, 2021}} and Cahiers du Cinéma{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/cahierscinema/status/1465213184638394369 |title=Top 10 2021 de la rédaction des Cahiers du cinéma |work=Cahiers du Cinéma |via=Twitter|date=November 28, 2021|access-date=December 22, 2021}} included the film as one of the best of 2021.

=Accolades=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" | Award

! scope="col" | Date of ceremony

! scope="col" | Category

! scope="col" | Recipient(s)

! scope="col" | Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{Refh}}

scope="row" |Hollywood Music in Media Awards

| November 17, 2021

| Best Original Score in an Independent Film

| Robert Levon Been & Giancarlo Vulcano

| {{nom}}

| {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/9655114/ariana-grande-beyonce-hollywood-music-in-media-awards/|title=Ariana Grande, Beyonce & More Vie for Hollywood Music in Media Awards: Complete Film Nominations List|magazine=Billboard|first=Paul|last=Grein|date=November 4, 2021|accessdate=November 4, 2021}}

scope="row"rowspan="2" |Gotham Awards

| rowspan="2" |November 29, 2021

| Best Screenplay

| Paul Schrader

| {{nominated}}

| rowspan="2" |{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/gotham-awards-2021-winners-list-1235119364/|title=Gotham Awards 2021 Full Winners List|magazine=Variety|first=Katie|last=Song|date=November 29, 2021|accessdate=December 22, 2021}}

Outstanding Lead Performance

| Oscar Isaac

| {{nominated}}

scope="row" |National Board of Review

| December 2, 2021

| Top 10 Independent Films

| The Card Counter

| {{won}}

|{{cite web|url=https://nationalboardofreview.org/2021/12/national-board-of-review-announces-2021-award-winners/ |title='National Board of Review Announces 2021 Award Winners |website=National Board of Review| date=December 2, 2021|access-date=December 22, 2021}}

scope="row" |Detroit Film Critics Society

| December 6, 2021

| Best Actor

| Oscar Isaac

| {{nominated}}

|{{cite web|url=https://detroitfilmcritics.com/awards/ |title='The 2021 Detroit Film Critics Society Awards |website=Detroit Film Critics Society| date=December 6, 2021|access-date=December 22, 2021}}

scope="row" |Chicago Film Critics Association

| December 15, 2021

| Best Original Screenplay

| Paul Schrader

| {{nominated}}

|{{cite web|first=Brian|last=Tallerico|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals/west-side-story-leads-the-chicago-critics-nominees |title='West Side Story Leads the 2021 Chicago Critics Nominees |website=Roger Ebert| date=December 13, 2021|access-date=December 22, 2021}}

scope="row" | Florida Film Critics Circle Awards

| December 22, 2021

| Best Actor

| rowspan="3"| Oscar Isaac

| {{nominated}}

|{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Neglia|url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2021-florida-film-critics-circle-ffcc-nominations/ |title='The Florida Film Critics Circle (FCCC) Nominations |website=Next Best Picture| date=December 15, 2021|access-date=December 22, 2021}}

scope="row" | Dublin Film Critics' Circle

| December 21, 2021

| Best Actor

|{{runner-up|3rd place}}

|{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Neglia|url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-2021-dublin-film-critics-circle-dfcc-winners/ |title= The 2021 Dublin Film Critics Circle (DFCC) Winners |website=Next Best Picture| date=December 21, 2021|access-date=December 22, 2021}}

scope="row" | London Film Critics' Circle

| February 6, 2022

| Actor of the Year

| {{nom}}

|{{cite web|first=K.J.|last=Yossman|url=https://variety.com/2021/awards/news/london-critics-circle-film-awards-nominations-2021-1235134890/ |title='Female Filmmakers Shine at London Critics' Circle Film Awards With Nominations for Jane Campion, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Joanna Hogg |website=Variety| date=December 16, 2021|access-date=December 22, 2021}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{Official website|https://www.focusfeatures.com/the-card-counter}}
  • {{IMDb title|11196036}}
  • [https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/The-Card-Counter-Read-The-Screenplay.pdf Official screenplay]

{{Paul Schrader}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Card Counter, The}}

Category:2021 films

Category:2021 crime drama films

Category:2021 independent films

Category:2020s American films

Category:2020s English-language films

Category:American films about revenge

Category:American crime drama films

Category:American films about gambling

Category:Films about blackjack

Category:Films about poker

Category:Films about torture

Category:Films directed by Paul Schrader

Category:Film productions suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Category:Films set in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Category:Films set in casinos

Category:Films shot in Mississippi

Category:Films with screenplays by Paul Schrader

Category:Focus Features films

Category:HanWay Films films

Category:Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse

Category:English-language independent films

Category:English-language crime drama films